Question of the Day #546

"Loofah Seeds Market Emerging Trends, Global Demand and Business Opportunities 2020 to 2026 "

From the headline of this article at the Weekly Wall.

上記の文で、loofahの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "loofah" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

《植物》ヘチマ、ヘチマの海綿状繊維、ヘチマ布巾、ヘチマ・スポンジ

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

1. any of a genus (Luffa) of Old World tropical plants of the gourd family with white to yellow flowers and large usually elongate fruits that are sometimes eaten as vegetables when immature
   also: the fruit of a loofah
2. a sponge consisting of the fibrous interior of the mature dried fruit of a loofah (especially Luffa aegyptiaca synonym L. cylindrica)

Examples

• Then, trim your toenails and use a scrub, loofah, or textured towel to slough off dead skin. — Sara Hendricks, USA TODAY, "10 ways to make your weekends feel more normal in quarantine," 22 Apr. 2020
• Exfoliate the Skin Use a loofah, washcloth, or exfoliating sponge to gently exfoliate your skin before shaving. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Teen Vogue, "How to Shave Pubic Hair If You Have a Vagina," 9 Mar. 2020
• In the main, further loofahs would have to come from hard currency countries, whereas sponges in the main come from soft currency areas.
• Insoles are sometimes called shoe socks and are made of cork, wool, canvas, felt or sometimes loofah.
• Richard inspected and rejected as poor towel substitutes a loofah, a half-empty bottle of shampoo, and a small yellow rubber duck. Neil Gaiman NEVERWHERE (2001)

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